Luggage transportation system

ABSTRACT

Provided is a luggage piece and luggage system with a luggage piece that can be coupled to a second luggage piece to be transported with the second luggage piece as a joined unit. The luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the luggage piece. A coupling system includes a plurality of tethers that cooperate with one or more receivers provided to the second luggage piece to couple the second luggage piece to the luggage piece to form a joined unit. An alignment structure is provided to a surface of the housing that is to be arranged opposite a housing surface of the second luggage piece. The alignment structure cooperates with a compatible alignment structure provided to the housing surface of the second luggage piece to interfere with lateral displacement of the luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This application relates generally to an apparatus for transporting luggage and, more specifically, to an apparatus for temporarily coupling a plurality of luggage pieces together to simplify transportation of the combined luggage pieces together as a collective unit.

2. Description of Related Art

Travelers have traditionally been required to carry luggage pieces such as carry-on suitcases through airports and other locations while en route to a destination. More recently, such luggage pieces have been provided with wheels to allow travelers to pull such luggage pieces, thereby reducing the physical demands of transporting luggage while traveling.

Although pulling a rolling suitcase is much less demanding of travelers than carrying a suitcase, traveling with more than a single such rolling suitcase requires each suitcase to be pulled separately. This can be a daunting task for a traveler who has packed more than one suitcase for an extended stay at a destination, or when traveling in the company of children who may not be able to pull their own luggage. Such travelers will be required to pull each individual rolling suitcase separately, making it difficult for the travelers to carry anything else such as a coat, airline tickets, or small children.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a luggage system that allows a plurality of luggage pieces to be coupled together and collectively transported together as a unit.

According to one aspect, the subject application involves a luggage piece that can be coupled to a second luggage piece to be transported with the second luggage piece as a joined unit. The second luggage piece includes a plurality of adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction, where the luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the luggage piece. A retractable handle is provided to the housing, and is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing. A plurality of rollers are coupled to the housing on which the luggage piece is to be rolled. A coupling system includes a plurality of tethers that cooperate with one or more receivers provided to the second luggage piece to couple the second luggage piece to the luggage piece at a position that allows the joined unit to roll on the in-line rollers and the adjustable rollers. The adjustable rollers provided to the second luggage piece afford the joined unit a steering capability.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves a luggage system that includes a first luggage piece and a second luggage piece. The first luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the first luggage piece. A retractable handle is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing. Two or more rollers are coupled to the housing on which the luggage piece is to be rolled. The second luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the second luggage piece, and a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing. A plurality of rollers are coupled to the housing on which the second luggage piece is to be rolled, including at least two adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction. A coupling system including a plurality of tethers couples the first and second luggage pieces together to be rolled on the at least two in-line rollers and the at least two adjustable rollers together as a joined unit. The joined unit is steerable through adjustment of the variable rolling direction of the adjustable rollers.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves a luggage system that includes a first luggage piece and a second luggage piece that can be coupled together to form a joined unit. The first luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment for storing items to be transported within the first luggage piece, and a retractable handle. The retractable handle is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing of the first luggage piece. A plurality of rollers are coupled to the housing to facilitate rolling of the first luggage piece, and include at least two adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction. The second luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment for storing items to be transported within the second luggage piece. The retractable belt is adjustable between a recessed position where the handgrip is disposed proximate to the housing of the second luggage piece and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing of the second luggage piece. A plurality of adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction are arranged to extend from a bottom surface of the second luggage piece to allow the second luggage piece to roll on the adjustable rollers. The bottom surface of the second luggage piece is devoid of any in-line rollers. A coupling system comprising a plurality of tethers that extend between the first and second luggage pieces are provided to couple the first and second luggage pieces together to be rolled on the in-line rollers and the adjustable rollers together as a joined unit. Because of the adjustable rollers, the joined luggage pieces are steerable in a plurality of different directions through adjustment of the variable rolling direction of the adjustable rollers without skidding in a manner that would otherwise occur if the adjustable rollers had a fixed rolling direction.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves a luggage piece that can be coupled to a second luggage piece to be transported with the second luggage piece as a joined unit. The second luggage piece includes a plurality of adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction. The luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the luggage piece. A retractable handle is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing. A plurality of adjustable rollers are coupled to the housing on which the luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers being pivotal to establish a variable rolling direction. A coupling system comprising a plurality of tethers that cooperate with one or more receivers provided to the second luggage piece couples the second luggage piece to the luggage piece at a position that allows the joined unit to roll on the adjustable rollers. An alignment structure is provided to a surface of the housing that is to be arranged opposite a housing surface of the second luggage piece. The alignment structure cooperates with a compatible alignment structure provided to the housing surface of the second luggage piece to interfere with lateral displacement of the luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves a luggage system including a first luggage piece and a second luggage piece. The first luggage piece includes a rigid housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the first luggage piece, and a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position and a deployed position. A plurality of adjustable rollers are coupled to the housing on which the first luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers establishing a variable rolling direction. A male alignment structure protrudes from a surface of the housing of the first luggage piece. The second luggage piece includes a rigid housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the second luggage piece, and a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position and a deployed position. A plurality of adjustable rollers are coupled to the housing on which the second luggage piece is to be rolled. The plurality of adjustable rollers establish a variable rolling direction. A female alignment structure is provided to a surface of the rigid housing of the second luggage piece. The female alignment structure cooperates with the male alignment structure while the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece are coupled together. A coupling system includes a plurality of tethers to couple the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece together, to be collectively rolled as a joined unit. The cooperation between the male alignment structure and the female alignment structure interferes with lateral displacement of the first luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece as the joined unit is rolled.

The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A show a perspective view an illustrative embodiment of a luggage system comprising a plurality of luggage pieces collectively forming a joined unit, and an inset top view of the joined unit;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a luggage piece separate from the joined unit and including a plurality of rollers;

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of a luggage piece comprising a combination of in-line rollers and adjustable rollers;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of a luggage piece comprising only adjustable rollers;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a joined unit of luggage pieces comprising a plurality of luggage pieces with different exterior dimensions;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of three luggage pieces aligned as a result of cooperation between mating alignment structures, the luggage pieces being coupled together to collectively form a joined unit;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the three luggage pieces forming the joined unit of FIG. 6, with female alignment structures shown;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an individual luggage piece that can be coupled to at least one other luggage piece to collectively form a joined unit, wherein male alignment structures are shown;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the individual luggage piece shown in FIG. 8, arranged to show female alignment structures that are compatible to cooperate with male alignment structures to promote arrangement and/or alignment of the luggage piece with another luggage piece;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage set that includes a plurality of luggage pieces, each with different external dimensions, that include alignment structures that cooperate to maintain a relationship of the luggage pieces when coupled together to form a joined unit;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the luggage set in FIG. 10 formed as the joined unit, and including a leash for towing the joined unit; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a distal region of a male alignment structure according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

It is also to be noted that the phrase “at least one of”, if used herein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example, the phrase “at least one of a first widget and a second widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, or the first widget and the second widget. Likewise, “at least one of a first widget, a second widget and a third widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, the third widget, the first widget and the second widget, the first widget and the third widget, the second widget and the third widget, or the first widget and the second widget and the third widget.

An illustrative embodiment of a luggage system 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A. As shown, the luggage system 10 includes a plurality of luggage pieces 12, 14, 16. Each luggage piece 12, 14, 16 can be what is commonly referred to as a “carry-on bag” (an example of which is shown in FIG. 2, and referred to generally at 18), as defined by commercial airlines and sized to be hand carried by a passenger onto a commercial aircraft and stored in an overhead bin of the commercial aircraft or under the seat in front of the seat in which the passenger is to be seated. Although the size limits for carry-on bags 18 can vary by commercial airline, an example of the maximum allowable external dimensions of a carry-on bag is a total dimension (i.e., the sum of the length (L)+width (W)+height (H)) of the housing 20 of fifty five inches (55 in.) or smaller, or fifty one inches (51 in.) or smaller. According to other embodiments, the maximum allowable total dimension of the housing 20 of a carry-on bag 18 is forty five inches (45 in.).

Other airlines may impose a maximum size limit on each individual dimension of an acceptable carry-on bag 18. For instance, the maximum external dimensions of the housing 20 of an acceptable carry-on bag 18 according to such embodiments can be limited to no more than twenty six four inches (24 in.), by sixteen inches (16 in.), by ten inches (10 in.) (i.e., 24 in.×16 in.×10 in.), which is fifty (50 in.) inches in total exterior dimensions (i.e., the sum of each of the individual dimensions). According to alternate embodiments, the maximum dimensions of the housing 20 of an acceptable carry-on bag 18 can be limited to no more than twenty two inches (22 in.), by fourteen inches (14 in.), by ten inches (10 in.) (i.e., 22 in.×14 in.×10 in.), for a total exterior dimension of forty-six (46 in.) inches.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to the carry-on bag 18. Alternate embodiments of one or more of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can be larger than the maximum dimensions of a carry-on bag 18. Such luggage pieces are large enough that they are required to be checked in with airlines, to be transported in a cargo hold of an airplane instead of a passenger cabin. For example, the relatively-large luggage piece can have a total exterior dimension greater than the total exterior dimensions of the carry-on bags 18 described above, up to sixty-two (62 in.) inches in total exterior dimension. Further, the luggage pieces coupled together can include luggage pieces having at least two different sizes (e.g., housings with different lengths L and/or different widths W), and optionally at least three different sizes. For example, the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 that are connectable can include a small luggage piece 12 (e.g., a carry-on bag 18), and a relatively-large luggage piece 16 having a total external dimension between forty-six (46 in.) inches and sixty-two (62 in.) inches, or a total external dimension between fifty (50 in.) inches and sixty-two (62 in.) inches. Yet another embodiment of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16, shown in FIG. 10, can include three different luggage pieces 12, 14, 16, each having a different total exterior dimension. For such an embodiment, the mixed set of luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can include at least: (i) a carry-on bag 18, (ii) a relatively-large luggage piece having a total external dimension between forty-six (46 in.) inches and sixty-two (62 in.) inches, or a total external dimension between fifty (50 in.) inches and sixty-two (62 in.) inches; and (iii) a luggage piece having a total external dimension between the carry-on bag 18 and the relatively-large luggage piece.

For embodiments where the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 include pieces that have a plurality of different total external dimensions, at least one, and optionally at least two of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can have external dimensions that allow the at least one or two pieces to be fully received and enclosed in another one of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16. For example, FIG. 10 shows a three-piece luggage set including a small luggage piece 12 (e.g., a carry-on bag 18), a mid-sized luggage piece 14, and a large luggage piece 16. A luggage piece (e.g., a carry-on bag 18) that is fully received and enclosed in another luggage piece (e.g., a mid-sized luggage piece 14) means that the small luggage piece 12 is received within the interior compartment defined by the receiving luggage piece 14. The front side 48 or door flap of the receiving luggage piece 14 is also pivoted about a linking device (e.g., a hinge, a length of material extending between the front side 48 and the rear side 51, etc.) that couples the front side 48 to a rear portion 51 of the luggage piece 14 to fully enclose the small luggage piece 12 in the interior compartment of the receiving luggage piece 14. For the embodiment in FIG. 10, a zipper 49, snap or other suitable closing mechanism can couple the front side 48 to a rear side 51 of the receiving luggage piece 14 to secure the small luggage piece 12 in the receiving luggage piece 14. Similarly, for some embodiments, the receiving luggage piece 14 storing the small luggage piece 12 can be fully received and enclosed within the large luggage piece 16, so the full set of nested luggage pieces can be transported as a single luggage piece. Thus, the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16, can be sold and delivered or otherwise distributed as a set, and transported with the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 nested together.

According to yet other embodiments, the maximum allowable external dimension(s) of an acceptable carry-on bag 18 can optionally be established by one or more regulation(s) promulgated by a governing body or trade association of the commercial airline industry such the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Although the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 coupled together to collectively form a single, joined unit 22 are described herein as being carry-on bags 18, the present invention is not so limited. Instead, each luggage piece 12, 14, 16 can independently be selected as a carry-on bag 18, a suitcase having dimensions greater than those allowable for carry-on bags 18, or a combination thereof. However, for the sake of brevity, the luggage system 10 will be described herein as comprising at least two, and optionally three luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 in the form of carry-on bags 18, as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the carry-on bag 18 includes a housing 20 defining an interior compartment for storing items to be transported within the carry-on bag 18. The housing 20 can include a substantially rigid shell formed from plastic sides arranged in a generally-cubicle formation, although each side does not necessarily have the same identical dimension. As an illustrative example, the carry-on bag 18 can include the dimensions of about: twenty two inches (22 in.) in length (L), fourteen inches (14 in.) in width (W), and ten inches (10 in.) in height (H) (i.e., 22 in.×14 in.×10 in.), but other dimensions are within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, each carry-on bag 18 included as one of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can have approximately the same dimensions and/or internal storage volume, or different dimensions that are less than the maximum allowable dimensions of a carry-on bag 18.

The externally-exposed surfaces of the housing 20, or at least portions thereof, can include connection regions 24 that can cooperate with a tether 26 (FIG. 1) as described in detail below to couple at least two, and optionally three or more luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 together to form the joined unit 22. For example, the externally-exposed surfaces can include a patch of material forming a first portion of a hook-and-loop fastening system commonly referred to by the trademark Velcro®, for example, as the connection region 24 (FIG. 2). The compatible, mating portion of the hook-and-loop fastening system can be supported adjacent to a distal end 28 (FIG. 1) of the tether 26 that extends away from the housing 20. According to alternate embodiments, the connection region 24 can include a portion of a buckle, snap, or any other releasable mechanical fastener that can be engaged by a portion of the tether 26 to establish a friction-fit connection that couples the distal end. Although the connection region 24 is shown in FIG. 2 as a well-defined portion that encompasses less than a significant portion of the housing 20, it is to be understood that the connection region 24 can optionally include any portion of the housing's surface area. For instance, a housing 20 having a fabric exterior surface can receive the mating portion of the hook-and-loop fastener at approximately any location on the exposed fabric. Thus, the connection region 24 can include an isolated region of the housing 20, or anywhere on the housing 20 where a suitable and compatible fastening component is available.

According to alternate embodiments, a system comprising a magnetic and/or a magnetically-attractive material can be provided as the connection region 24 and the compatible, mating portion provided adjacent to the distal end 28 of the tether 26. Magnetic attraction between the magnet and magnetically-attractive portion serves to releasably couple the distal end 28 of the tether 26 to the connection region 24, and thereby couple immediately adjacent luggage pieces together as described below. Regardless of the particular materials used, the fastening system provided to the connection region 24 and the distal end 28 of the tether(s) 26 releasably couples the distal end 28 of the tether 26 extending from one carry-on bag 18 to an immediately-adjacent carry-on bag 18. As a releasable coupling, the distal end 28 of the tether 26 can repeatedly be connected, by hand, and subsequently removed to/from its corresponding connection region 24 provided to the immediately adjacent (e.g., not separated from each other by an intervening carry-on bag 18) carry-on bag 18 without damaging the tether 16, the connection region 24 or the carry-on bag 18 to an extent that renders any such components unfit for subsequent usage.

The one tether 26, or plurality of tethers 26 can optionally include a permanent tether 26 that is affixed to at least one, and optionally each of the carry-on bags 18 included in the luggage system 10, in a non-releasable manner. The permanent tether 26 prevents removal of the tether 26 without damaging the permanent tether 26 itself, or the carry-on bag 18 to which it is affixed. For example, one or more of the tethers 26 can be stitched using nylon thread or other suitable stitching 27 to a first luggage piece 12 (FIG. 1), for example. According to alternate embodiments, a proximate end of the permanent tether 26 can be adhesively coupled to the housing 20 of the first luggage piece 12, or secured to be spooled about a spool provided to the first luggage piece 20, for example. When not coupling luggage pieces together, the distal end 28 of the tether 26 can optionally cooperate with a portion of the housing 20, or can otherwise be supported or stowed on the housing of the luggage piece to which the tether 26 is affixed in a manner that does not interfere with use of that luggage piece by itself, separate from the other luggage pieces.

Additionally, the tethers 26 are described herein as being straps of a flexible material such as nylon or the like. However, it is to be understood that any suitable fastener (e.g., plastic, metal or other rigid braces; elastic bands; etc. . . . ) that can extend between the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 described herein can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

To promote and optionally maintain proper alignment and/or arrangement of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 coupled together as part of the joined unit 22, one or more of the externally-exposed surfaces of the housing 20 of each luggage piece 12, 14, 16 can be provided with one, or a plurality of alignment structures. For the illustrative embodiment of a luggage piece 12 shown in FIG. 8, the externally-exposed surface of the housing 20 that is to be placed in close proximity to an opposing surface of the immediately adjacent luggage piece 14 is provided with a plurality of male alignment structures 60. Each male alignment structure 60 protrudes from a substantially planar front side 48 of the housing 20. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, four male alignment structures 60 each having a generally-rectangular footprint on the front side 48 are arranged at corner regions of the front side 48. An elongated male alignment structure 60 extends in a vertical direction while the luggage piece 12 is standing upright, in a central region of the front side 48, along a longitudinal axis of the front side 48. The various sides of the housing 20 can be formed from a substantially-rigid plastic to maintain a fixed arrangement and orientation of the male alignment structures 60 while the luggage piece 12 is closed. According to alternate embodiments, however, the male alignment structures 60 can have a footprint on the front side 48 of any desired shape. At least one, and optionally a plurality of the male alignment structures 60 can optionally protrude from an externally-exposed surface 62 of the tether 26 that can be pivoted outwardly, generally away from the front side 48 to couple the luggage piece to an adjacent luggage piece 14, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. According to alternate embodiments, the male alignment structures 60 protruding from the externally-exposed surface 62 of the tether 26 can be hollow caps, covering the actual male alignment structures 60 protruding from the front side 48. While such a tether 26 is not in use to couple luggage pieces together, but is in a stowed state coupled to the front side 48 of its own luggage piece, the hollow cap may be folded over the underlying male alignment structure 60, which are received within the hollow space defined by the hollow cap. When the tether 26 is deployed to couple luggage pieces together, the once-hidden alignment structure 60 is exposed to cooperate with the respective female alignment structure 66 of the coupled luggage piece.

A proximate side 46 of the housing 20 adjacent to a vertical plane in which the handle 30 extends and retracts as described in detail below can be provided with at least one, and optionally a plurality of female alignment structures 66, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Each female alignment structure 66 can be a recess formed in the proximate side 46 of the housing 20, and have a location and shape with a footprint on the proximate side 46 of the housing 20 that is compatible to receive the male alignment structures 60. For the example illustrated in the drawings, four female alignment structures 66 each having a generally-rectangular footprint on the proximate side 46 are arranged at corner regions of the proximate side 46. An elongated female alignment structure 66 extends in a vertical direction while the luggage piece 12 is standing upright, in a central region of the proximate side 46, along a longitudinal axis of the proximate side 46. Although the alignment structures are described herein as being a male alignment structure 60 on the front side 48 and a female alignment structure 66 on the proximate side 46, the present disclosure is not so limited. Male alignment structures 60 can be provided to the proximate side 46 and female alignment structures 66 can be provided to the front side 48, or male and female alignment structures 60, 66 can both be provided to a common side. However, a consistent distribution of male and female alignment structures 60, 66 can be used throughout a line of luggage pieces to facilitate unlimited connectivity, meaning that any number of luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can be aligned with each other and coupled together to be transported as a joined unit. The male alignment structures 60 are described herein as being provided to the front face 48 and the female alignment structures 66 are described herein as being provided to the proximate side 46 for illustrative purposes.

One, or a plurality of the male alignment structures 60 can optionally be provided with an embedded magnet 72, a first portion of a hook-and-loop fastener, or any other suitable connecting structure, shown using hidden lines in FIG. 8. For embodiments that include a magnet, the magnet 72 can be embedded within the male alignment structure(s) 60 to be concealed from view when those male alignment structure(s) 60 are observed from outside of the housing 20. For example, each magnet 72 can be embedded within, or coupled to an inward-facing surface of the material forming the male alignment structure(s) 60. For embodiments including the first portion of a hook and loop fastener, the first portion can be coupled to an external surface of the male alignment structure(s) 60, and visible when the front side 48 of the luggage piece 12 is observed. Because the male alignment structure 60 protrudes outwardly, from the front side 48, a shield can optionally be provided as part of, or adjacent to the male alignment structure 60. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the extended, distal end of the male alignment structure 60 can include the first portion 65 of the hook-and-loop fastener. This portion 65 of the hook-and-loop fastener can be recessed relative to a surrounding shield 61. Thus, if the luggage piece is laid front side down, the portion 65 of the hook-and-loop fastener will be supported above the ground or other supporting surface, and thereby protected from contact. The corresponding female alignment structure 66 can include the second portion of the hook-and-loop fastener protruding outward from a surrounding recess. The shield 61 can be received within the recess, and the first and second portions of the hook-and-loop fastener can be placed in contact with each other.

One, or a plurality of the female alignment structure(s) 66 can optionally be provided with an embedded magnetically-attractive material 76, a second portion of a hook-and-loop fastener that is compatible with the first portion, or any other structure compatible with a different connecting structure provided to the respective male alignment structure 60, shown using hidden lines in FIG. 9. The magnetically-attractive material 76 can optionally be provided to only a subset (e.g., fewer than all) of the female alignment structures 66 that correspond to male alignment structures 60 provided with a magnet 72, or can optionally be provided to all of the female alignment structures 66 just as the magnet 72 can optionally be provided to a subset, or all of the male alignment structures 62. Like each magnet 72, the magnetically-attractive material 76 can optionally be embedded within the female alignment structure(s) 66 to be concealed from view when those female alignment structure(s) 66 are observed from outside of the housing 20. For example, each magnetically-attractive material 76 can be embedded within, or coupled to an inward-facing surface of the material forming the female alignment structure(s) 66. For embodiments including the second portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, the second portion can be coupled to an external surface of the female alignment structure(s) 66, and visible when the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 12 is observed. For embodiments including a magnetic, hook-and-loop fastener or other joining system provided to the alignment structures, the tethers 26 of the coupling system to couple the luggage pieces together can be used in combination with the magnetic, hook-and-loop fastener or other joining system. For other embodiments, the magnetic, hook-and-loop fastener or other joining system can be used instead of the tethers 26 to couple the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 together to form the joined unit as described herein.

When the luggage piece 12 is brought into contact with another luggage piece 14 to form a joined unit 22, the male alignment structures 60 of the luggage piece 12 are at least partially received within the female alignment structures 66 of the other luggage piece 14 to establish a linear arrangement of the luggage pieces 12, 14 included in the joined unit 22. For embodiments including one or more of the magnet(s) 72 and the magnetically-attractive material(s) 76, the magnetic force there between urges the luggage pieces 12, 14 together, optionally contributing to the connection between the luggage pieces 12, 14 established between the distal end of the tether 26 and the connection region 24 provided to the luggage piece 14. The cooperation between the female alignment structures 66 and their respective male alignment structures 60 helps to limit lateral displacement of one luggage piece (e.g., luggage piece 12) relative the contiguously-positioned luggage piece (e.g., luggage piece 14) once they are coupled together.

Although the luggage piece 12 is described individually in FIGS. 8 and 9 as having both the male alignment structures 60 and the female alignment structures 66, it is to be understood that the luggage piece 12 can optionally have only one of the male or female alignment structures 60, 66. If the luggage piece 12 includes only the female alignment structures 66, then it can form part of a joined unit 22 by being arranged to position the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 12 in opposition to a front side 48 of another luggage piece 14, for example, including the male alignment structures 60. Similarly, if the luggage piece 12 includes only the male alignment structures 60, then it can form part of a joined unit 22 by being arranged to position the front side 48 of the luggage piece 12 in opposition to a proximate side 46 of another luggage piece 14, for example, including the female alignment structures 66. If the luggage piece 12 includes both the male alignment structures 60 and the female alignment structures 66, then it can form part of a joined unit 22 by being arranged to position the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 12 in opposition to a front side 48 of another luggage piece 14, for example, that includes the male alignment structures 60, and/or to position the front side 48 of the luggage piece 12 in opposition to a proximate side 46 of another luggage piece 16, for example, that includes the female alignment structures 66.

Further, although the luggage piece 12 is described in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9, one or more additional luggage pieces 14, 16 can be configured similar to luggage piece 12. In other words, each of the luggage pieces 14, 16 can independently be configured to include only one or more of the male alignment structures 60 on the front side 48, only one or more of the female alignment structures 66, or one or more of the male alignment structures 60 and one or more of the female alignment structures 66. Thus, the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can optionally be grouped in sets of at least two, up to at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or more to form joined units 22 of any desired size. Additionally, the front side 48 of the housing 20 is described as including one or more male alignment structures 60 while the proximate side 46 is described as including one or more female alignment structures 66. However, the front side 48 and proximate side 46 can each independently be configured to include one or more of the male alignment structures 60, one or more of the female alignment structures 66, or a combination of one or more male alignment structures 60 and one or more female alignment structures 66. Similarly, the optional magnet 72 is described as being provided to the male alignment structure(s) 60 while the optional magnetically-attractive material 76 is described as being provided to the male alignment structure(s) 66. However, the magnet 72 and the magnetically-attractive material 76 can optionally be provided to the male alignment structure(s) 60, the female alignment structure(s) 66, or to the male alignment structure(s) 60 and the female alignment structure(s) 66 such that an alignment structure provided with the magnet 72 is arranged to be opposed to an alignment structure provided with the magnetically-attractive material 76 when luggage pieces are coupled together in a joined unit 22. Further, one or more of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can be configured as an “end unit.” For example, a rear end unit can include one or more male and/or female alignment features on the front side 48 only, and lack any alignment features on the proximate side 46. Thus, when forming a rearward-most luggage piece of a joined unit 22, the rear end of the joined unit 22 has an aesthetically-pleasing appearance. Similarly, a front end unit can include one or more male and/or female alignment features on the proximate side 46 only, and lack any alignment features on the front side 48. Thus, when forming a forward-most luggage piece of a joined unit 22, the front end of the joined unit 22 has an aesthetically-pleasing appearance.

The alignment structures 60, 66 can optionally have a common shape (e.g., footprint) on each luggage piece, including luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 that are different sizes. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, the male alignment features 60 provided to the front side 48 of the mid-sized luggage piece 14 are aligned to cooperate with the female alignment features 66 provided to the proximate side 46 of the carry-on luggage piece 12, while both luggage pieces 12, 14 are resting on the adjustable rollers 42. Optionally, fewer than all of the male alignment features 60 of the mid-sized luggage piece 14 may cooperate with corresponding female alignment features 66 of the carry-on luggage piece 12. For example, at least a portion of, and optionally an entirety of the upper-most male alignment features 60A arranged on the luggage piece 14 at a vertical elevation above the shorter carry-on luggage piece 12 can optionally remain exposed above the carry-on luggage piece 12. For the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the exposed portions of the male alignment features 60A do not cooperate with any portion of the carry-on luggage piece 12 10. However, a bottom region of the male alignment features 60A can optionally cooperate with partial female alignment features 66 provided to the carry-on luggage piece 12. In this manner, the arrangement of alignment features 60, 66 provided to the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 is compatible with the arrangement of compatible alignment features 60, 66 provided to the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 having the same, or different external dimensions.

Each carry-on bag 18 can optionally also include a retractable handle 30 (FIG. 2) that is adjustable relative to the housing 20 between a recessed position, where a handgrip 32 provided to the handle 30 is disposed adjacent to the housing 20, and a deployed position where the handgrip 32 is extended distally away from the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 30 is adjustable in a vertically-oriented plane that extends substantially parallel to the length (L) of the housing 20. Further, an additional, fixed handle 34 can optionally be provided to a lateral side 36 of the housing 20 to facilitate lifting and transportation of the carry-on bag 18 by hand, with the length oriented in a substantially-horizontal orientation.

According to alternate embodiments, each luggage piece 12, 14, 16 can optionally include substantially the same type of handle, which is shown in FIG. 2 as a generally U-shaped handle (the handgrip 32 forming the bridge between the downward facing sides of the U). According to alternate embodiments, the first luggage piece 12 can optionally include the telescopically-retractable U-shaped handle 30, while another luggage piece 16, for example, includes a retractable belt handle 54 (FIG. 1), or a handle including a single, telescopically adjustable arm with the handgrip supported thereon. The belt handle 54 includes a belt of nylon or other suitable material that is stored about a spool coupled to the housing 20, and a handgrip 32 provided to a distal end of the retractable belt. The spool can optionally be recessed within a portion of the housing 20 to be concealed from view when the housing 20 is observed. Like the U-shaped embodiment of the handle 32, the retractable belt is adjustable relative to the housing 20 between a recessed position where the handgrip 32 is disposed proximate to the housing 20 and a deployed position where the handgrip 32 is extended distally away from the housing 20. To assist users in transporting the joined unit 22, a leash 55 (FIG. 11) can optionally be removably coupled to a receiver 59 (FIG. 9) that is located adjacent to a bottom surface 44 of the housing 20. The leash can be formed from a strap of flexible material such as nylon, for example, having a handle or loop 56 at one end to be grasped by the user. The receiver can be a hook, post, or other suitable structure to which the lease 55 can be removably coupled. According to one embodiment, being considered adjacent to the bottom surface 44 positions the receiver 59 at an elevation within the lowermost two-thirds, or the lowermost one half, or the lowermost one third of the proximate side 46 in the view of FIG. 9. The lower elevation of the connection of the leash 55 to the luggage piece allows at least some of the pulling force to be in the upward direction, taking a portion of the force that would otherwise be imparted on the forward rollers and distributing that force over all of the rollers. The receiver being at such an elevation helps to avoid tipping the luggage piece over while it is being pulled. Although the receiver 59 is at such an elevation, the receiver 59 can be provided at a location along the proximate side 46, at a location along one or both lateral sides 57, or any other suitable location. A clasp or other adjustable connector provided to the leash 55 can cooperate with the receiver 59 to releasably couple the leash 55 to the luggage piece.

The carry-on bag 18 also includes a plurality of rollers 40, 42 that extend downwardly, and/or protrude from a bottom surface 44 of the housing 20 that is positioned to oppose a ground surface on which the carry-on bag 18 rests when standing upright, with the handle 30 extending in a substantially-vertical orientation. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of rollers 40, 42 can include at least two, and optionally more, in-line rollers 40 arranged along a proximate side 46 of the housing 20 adjacent to the vertical plane in which the handle 30 extends and retracts. Each of the in-line rollers 40 can include a wheel that rotates about an axle having a fixed rolling direction, which does not pivot or otherwise change in response to a change of direction in which the carry-on bag 18 is rolling while being pulled with the handle 30.

The plurality of rollers 40, 42 of the carry-on bag 18 in FIG. 2 also include at least two, and optionally more, adjustable rollers 42. The adjustable rollers 42 also extend downwardly beyond the bottom surface 44 of the housing, but are arranged closer to a vertical plane in which a distal, or front side 48 of the housing 20, opposite the proximate side 46 of the housing 20 adjacent to the vertical plane in which the handle 30 extends and retracts, is located. Each of the adjustable rollers 42 includes a wheel, ball, caster, or other suitable rolling device that rotates about an axis of rotation having an adjustable rolling direction, which pivots or otherwise changes in response to a change of direction in which the carry-on bag 18 is rolling while the adjustable rollers 42 are in contact with the ground. Thus, the adjustable rollers 42 can maintain contact with the ground and allow the distal side 48 of the carry-on bag 18 to be turned or otherwise steered while the carry-on bag 18 is rolling on all of the rollers 40, 42, without dragging or otherwise skidding rollers as would occur if the adjustable 42 rollers adjacent to the distal side 48 of the housing 20 were replaced with in-line rollers. In other words, and with reference to FIG. 3, which is a view looking up at an embodiment of the bottom surface 44 of the housing 20, the adjustable rollers 42 rotate about an axis 50, which can pivot in the directions indicated by arrow 52 depending upon the direction in which the carry-on bag 18 is being steered while the adjustable rollers 42 are in contact with the ground.

According to alternate embodiments, however, all of the rollers extending away from the bottom surface 44 of the carry-on bag 18 can be adjustable rollers 42, as shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the carry-on bag 18 lacks any inline rollers 40, and can be pivoted in any direction.

The plurality of rollers provided to each of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 in included in the luggage system 10 FIG. 1 can be independently selected to include a plurality of in-line rollers 40, a plurality of adjustable rollers 42, or a plurality of in-line rollers 40 and a plurality of adjustable rollers 42. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first luggage piece 12 can include a plurality of in-line rollers 40 arranged along a proximate side 46 of the housing 20. The first luggage piece 12 also includes a plurality of adjustable rollers 42 arranged adjacent to the distal side 48 of the housing. The in-line rollers 40 of the first luggage piece 12 allow the first luggage piece 12 to track in a substantially straight line, while the adjustable rollers 42 allow the first luggage piece to be turned in a manner similar to a car, where the adjustable rollers 42 allow the distal side 48 to be steered while the in-line wheels 40 follow.

In contrast, the other luggage pieces 14, 16 included in the luggage system 10 collectively forming the joined unit 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 can each include a plurality of adjustable rollers 42, such as four, arranged along the bottom surface 44 of the housing as illustrated in FIG. 4, for example. According to such an embodiment, the luggage pieces 14, 16 each include only adjustable rollers 42, without any in-line rollers 40, to allow the luggage pieces 14, 16 to be freely rotated without the tracking ability afforded by the in-line rollers 40.

In use, the luggage piece 12 can be positioned immediately adjacent to another luggage piece 14 (e.g., physically abutting against each other). The distal side 48 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the luggage piece 12 can be placed against, or at least opposing the distal side 48 of the luggage piece 14. Thus, the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 12 adjacent to the handle 30 forms a first terminal end of the joined unit 22, and the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 14 adjacent to the handle 30 provided to that luggage piece 14 forms another terminal end of the joined unit 22 along a longitudinal axis. Arranged in such a manner, the handle 30 provided to each luggage piece 12, 14 is arranged adjacent to a terminal end to allow access to a handle 30 regardless of which end a user is standing next to. One, or a plurality of tethers 26 can be extended between the luggage piece 12 and the luggage piece 14, and the mating portion of the fastening system supported by the distal end of the tether 26 introduced to the connection portion 24 provided to the housing of the luggage piece 14, thereby coupling the luggage pieces 12, 14 together. As shown in FIG. 1, four tethers 26 are used to couple the luggage pieces 12, 14 together: one tether 26 on each lateral side 36 of the housing 20, and two tethers 26 extending between a top surface 58 of each of the luggage pieces 12, 14. Of course any number of tethers 26 suitable to couple the luggage pieces 12, 14 together and maintain their close relative positioning while being rolled and steered as the joined unit 22 can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In a like manner, the luggage piece 16 can also be positioned adjacent to the luggage piece 14, and coupled thereto with a plurality of tethers 26 to form a joined unit 22 comprising three luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 as shown in FIG. 1. With the in-line rollers 40 arranged at one longitudinal end of the joined unit 22, the joined unit 22 can be pulled by the retractable belt handle 54 and follow, tracking in a substantially straight line as a result of the fixed steering direction of the in-line rollers 40. Even embodiments with all luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 having only adjustable rollers 42, however, can also be pulled in a straight line, but also have the ability to be pivoted about a fixed point as well. The other terminal end of the joined unit 22, adjacent to the adjustable rollers 42 provided to the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 16 as shown in FIG. 1, can be steered through adjustment of the rolling direction of the adjustable rollers 42 without dragging or skidding fixed-rolling-direction rollers in a direction other than their fixed rolling direction. Each of the rollers disposed along the joined unit 22 between the in-line rollers 40 provided adjacent one terminal end and the adjustable rollers 42 provided adjacent the opposite terminal end can be adjustable rollers to facilitate steering of the opposite terminal end without dragging or skidding fixed-rolling-direction rollers in a direction other than their fixed rolling direction.

Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A luggage piece that can be coupled to a second luggage piece to be transported with the second luggage piece as a joined unit, the second luggage piece comprising a plurality of adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction, the luggage piece comprising: a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the luggage piece; a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing; a plurality of adjustable rollers coupled to the housing on which the luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers being pivotal to establish a variable rolling direction; a coupling system comprising a plurality of tethers that cooperate with one or more receivers provided to the second luggage piece to couple the second luggage piece to the luggage piece at a position that allows the joined unit to roll on the adjustable rollers; and an alignment structure provided to a surface of the housing that is to be arranged opposite a housing surface of the second luggage piece, wherein the alignment structure cooperates with a compatible alignment structure provided to the housing surface of the second luggage piece to interfere with lateral displacement of the luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece.
 2. The luggage piece of claim 1, wherein at least one of a front surface and a proximate surface of the housing is formed from a rigid material, and the alignment structure is a male alignment structure that protrudes from the at least one of the front surface and a proximate surface.
 3. The luggage piece of claim 1, wherein at least one of a front surface and a proximate surface of the housing is formed from a rigid material, and the alignment structure is a female alignment structure that includes a recess formed in the at least one of the front surface and a proximate surface.
 4. The luggage piece of claim 1 further comprising a second alignment structure, wherein the alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged at different vertical elevations on at least one of a front side and a proximate side of the housing.
 5. The luggage piece of claim 1 further comprising a second alignment structure, wherein the alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged such that at least a portion of the alignment structure and a portion of the second alignment structure are arranged at a common vertical elevation on at least one of a front side and a proximate side of the housing.
 6. The luggage piece of claim 1, wherein the alignment structure comprises a magnet that magnetically attracts a portion of a compatible alignment structure provided to the second luggage piece.
 7. The luggage piece of claim 1, wherein the alignment structure comprises a first portion of a hook-and-loop fastener that engages a second portion of the hook-and-loop fastener provided to a compatible alignment structure provided to the second luggage piece.
 8. The luggage piece of claim 1 further comprising a leash that is to cooperate with a receiver arranged adjacent to a lower region of the luggage piece.
 9. The luggage piece of claim 1, wherein the alignment structure is configured to cooperate with a compatible alignment structure provided to each of a plurality of different luggage pieces, wherein the plurality of different luggage pieces comprise housings of different sizes.
 10. A luggage system comprising: (i) a first luggage piece comprising: a rigid housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the first luggage piece, a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing, a plurality of adjustable rollers coupled to the housing on which the first luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers establishing a variable rolling direction, and a male alignment structure that protrudes from a surface of the housing; (ii) a second luggage piece comprising: a rigid housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the second luggage piece, a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing, a plurality of adjustable rollers coupled to the housing on which the second luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers establishing a variable rolling direction, and a female alignment structure provided to a surface of the rigid housing of the second luggage piece, wherein the female alignment structure cooperates with the male alignment structure while the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece are coupled together; and (iii) a coupling system comprising a plurality of tethers that couple the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece together, to be collectively rolled as a joined unit, wherein the cooperation between the male alignment structure and the female alignment structure interferes with lateral displacement of the first luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece as the joined unit is rolled.
 11. The luggage system of claim 10, wherein the male alignment structure protrudes from a front side of the housing of the first luggage piece, and the female alignment structure is formed in a proximate side of the housing of the second luggage piece.
 12. The luggage system of claim 10, wherein the first luggage piece further comprises a second alignment structure, wherein the male alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged at different vertical elevations on a front side of the housing of the first luggage piece.
 13. The luggage system of claim 10, wherein the first luggage piece further comprises a second alignment structure, wherein the male alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged such that at least a portion of the male alignment structure and a portion of the second alignment structure are arranged at a common vertical elevation on a front side of the housing of the first luggage piece.
 14. The luggage system of claim 10, wherein the male alignment structure comprises a magnet that magnetically attracts a portion of the female alignment structure provided to the second luggage piece.
 15. The luggage system of claim 10, wherein the female alignment structure comprises a magnet that magnetically attracts a portion of the male alignment structure provided to the first luggage piece.
 16. The luggage system of claim 10, wherein the male alignment structure comprises a first portion of a hook-and-loop fastener, and the female alignment structure comprises a second portion of the hook-and-loop fastener that engages the first portion of the hook-and-loop fastener.
 17. The luggage system of claim 10, wherein the housing of the first luggage piece is a different size than the housing of the second luggage piece.
 18. The luggage system of claim 10 further comprising a leash that is to cooperate with a receiver arranged adjacent to a lower region of at least one of the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece. 